CAL Hirring??
 

Everyone says that CAL is going to start back up after the summer, well its after the summer and it does not appear that they have. What is the word out of Huston? How many, and when??

I didn't know they stopped! I keep hearing a few names getting a call. Hopfully they can take in about 30-40/mo.

Yeah, things are rolling at full steam over there.

I'm at the schoolhouse now. 15/ week 475 by June 07.

They never stopped. During the summer they went way down in numbers to allow instructors to go fly the line. But they are hiring 16 per week now. New hires will go directly into the 777 for the first time.

That's because no one else wants it. IRO flying (not FO- no takeoffs or landings-can't log it as PIC or SIC), reserve, 16 hour legs, overnights in Deli and Tel Aviv. No thanks. I'd like to fly it someday, but I'm avoiding it for now. :rolleyes:

a friend of mine said that 777 reserve fo's never fly. only about 8-10 days a month. not bad if you live near newark...

Cares about PIC/SIC?

Where are you building time to go to as a 777 guy?

Besides, think you're wrong about logging SIC... Rq'd crew member, sole manipulator of the controls...

I was told, "expect a call in 2-3 weeks" but that was back in Feb:(

Three internal recs from: CLE, IAH and EWR.... but I guess I need to send a bottle of Glenfiddich to the right person:rolleyes: down in Texas?

Like they say: patience is a virtue or at least that is what I think they say:confused:

So what is your point? From your avitar you are flying the 756FO seat. Last time I looked no one wanted that either. Same goes for junior FO on the 737. The point is after a certain seniority pilots already on the list don't bid the slots. Especially when someone knows they'll be 737FO line holder in 6 months.

And I could care less if I ever get another landing. I quit logging flight time over a decade ago.

Statement like this kill me especially when it is a thread where someone is hoping to join the airline.

You make it sound like there is no way in "H" you'd fly 777 reserve, 16 hour legs, Tel Aviv, and Delhi. But I'd bet the day you were offered the job and if they said that is what you'd be holding you would have kissed the interviewers A$$ for the chance to do it.

So where do I sign up ??? :D After the sh**ty companies and sh**ty aircraft I have been on, 777 is like a wet dream.

My point is that I'm a pilot and I fly airplanes. IRO's are baby sitters. I don't do IRO. 756 is the most desired aircraft. Best flying in the company. Nice planes and nice destinations. 756 IRO being the exception to that.

That was before PBS, now there are few reserve positions.

I'm a pilot, therefore I fly airplanes. IRO don't fly. IRO is third-in-command (even when the CA is sleeping in the back). He spends 1/3 of the flight in the back, 1/3 in the left seat, and 1/3 in the right seat. The takeoff and landing, they are in the jumpseat. It's not about building time, its about being a pilot or baby sitter.

Sure, but I have better know, so why would I want it? My whole class was 737 and I'm glad I got to fly it. I want to fly everything as some point, but for now I'll take the 756- I like it here.

My point in my original post is obvious. The new hires will get the 777 because it is JUNIOR, because senior pilots avoid it (at least avoid the bottom of the 777 FO seniority list). New hires will love it, but I'd prefer to fly a plane as a new hire. I'd pick the 737 as a new hire, so I can fly. I'd hate to go to Houston every few months for a 777 re-qual.

The 756 has been going junior in almost all the classes because new hires on the 737 are forecasted be off reserve considerably quicker. In Newark the 73 guys that are in training now won't sit on reserve much longer than 2 months. The Houston guys will be between 2 and 4. The 756 spots are all Newark from what I've seen and are forecasted to be on reserve for near a year.

Otto is right, besides the lifestyle on reserve, the 756 in Newark is generally considered the best flying CAL does.

You know what, after reading Otto's posts I'd rather not go to CAL. I will stay were I am thank you, at least at my company we dont put each other down for the positions we are put in.

I don't think Otto was putting CAL down at all. In previous posts he is always positive about the company. Yes, most people would take the 777 for CAL in a heartbeat, but once onboard (like Otto) it is the most undesirable junior A/C.

Are you guys bitter towards him because you wish you were in his shoes?

No, IROs are there as a required crewmember. This kind of statement is exactly why this profession is going downhill. You can't even respect those that are a necessary part of your crew. An IRO spends just as much time in the seat as an FO. Before I bid to CA I first bid high time turns as an FO and if I couldn't hold that I bid IRO. Same 11 hour turn and same pay. That is the part you don't get.

It is about days OFF and nothing more.

Well, since you are still ONLY an FO and if we fly together I'll just let you be a gear thrower. Because if an IRO is just a babysitter. Your nothing but a CAs puppet. Thank goodness I'm not either one of those anymore. Because in your eyes YOU and the IRO simply aren't needed. BTW, did you do the walk-a-round?

Been there done that. Time at home is the only destination I care about.

He may not have been putting CAL down but to call IROs babysitters is BS. I'm not bitter. Just offended by his lack of respect for a requirded crew position. Makes you wonder how he'll be as a CA on the 756 one day when the IRO shows up. While he is giving his "I'M THE CA SPEECH". I hope he has the balls to call the IRO a babysitter.

Of course they are a required crewmember, who said they were not? IRO's do not get to fly. No flows, no checklists, no takeoffs, no landings, no currency. I know about the pay and days off. That is not part of the discussion. I'm not sure why you are so upset? I'd rather fly as a pilot and not as an IRO. Many others think that way too. Many like to be IRO, and there are career IRO's. Good for them. I'm not saying they are worthless (read my posts). I never said or implied that I don't respect them. They are qualified pilots- typed in the plane. "In my eyes the FO and IRO are not needed". Wow, where did you get that one? A babysitter is a good description, they watch the plane while another crewmember takes a required FAA break. What would you call it? If you, as my CA, will only let me throw the gear- then I will not fly with you. The FAA requires a minimumTWO pilots and so does CAL. One of the reasons I prefer FO to IRO- is what I have been saying. I fly, the IRO does not. I don't know what you're reading into my posts, but please stop.

There is NO lack of respect. Many of my friends can only hold IRO. The thread is on new hires getting IRO on the 777. I don't do it because all I'd do is sit there and watch the plane while another pilot takes their break. If you don't like the comparison, too bad. I'm not saying they are equal to a 16 girl getting $5/hour. I'm saying they don't get to fly. Many of my IRO's have 20 years more senority than me. They have more experience, more flight time, and make a lot more money than me. Still, I'd rather fly the plane. I think you've taken my posts wrong.

I read that your opinion of an IRO is nothing more than a babysitter. Kinda like someone that doesn't know any better saying that you are nothing but a bus driver. But the difference is you should know better and have more respect for what you do or your IRO does. Maybe statements like yours is why the pay is headed that way. I'll bet you voted yes.

Again, you are way off. Again, you mention lack of respect. I won't try convicing you that you're wrong about how I feel about IRO's. If you think I'm the problem with pay in the industry, you're dumber than I think. No, I did not vote "yes".

I'm curious why you wouldn't rather be the IRO? sleep in the back and be rested on the overnight vs. staying up all night and being tired? is it the 75% pay?

I think Otto explained in his posts, he would rather FLY than sleep since he is a PILOT and wants to FLY:)

It is a personal choice, IMO. If someone mostly cares about time off, pay, QOL etc., then he/she may not care about being IRO or FO. But if someone wants to really FLY more and build hours, then FO is much more desirable than IRO. I understand this as my bf just left IRO position with his current airline in the US to join an international airline as 747 FO. As hard as it is, I understand his desire to FLY more.

The only flying an FO does more than an IRO is possibly one TO and one landing. Actually, an IRO depending on which legs the breaks are taken actually flys more than the FO. But if monitoring the autopilot is flying then I guess OTTO loves his job. I own a Pitts and a C180 on floats. To me that is flying not watching an autopilot enter the hold for me.

IRO is not deadheading. It is Full Pay. 100%. No difference. And as of July 1, 2007 even a deadheader gets 100% full pay again.

most IRO trips start out with a deadhead though, right?

Not necessarily. And if it had I would not have bid it. The 756 might. But on the 737 if an IRO is required it is because it is a turn. Not an overnight then the return leg against the winds exceeds 8 hours. See OTTO obviously never gained enough seniority on the 737 to know what he is talking about. An IRO actually flys more than the FO on the 73 if the CA takes the first break. But again flying an autopilot isn't flying. Before I bid CA, I either bid the 10:50 FO turns or the IRO turns to Cabo and PVR. Working 80 days per year is what it is about at full pay. I did that until I was at 50% on the CA side.

So while Otto flys 180-200 days per year and made the same pay, I on the other hand was home with my family. But I'm glad that being on the road an extra 100 days per year is worth it so he can hand fly a 756 20 minutes per day.

But nothing wrong with that. That is seniority and gives us choice but I'd still bet that he doesn't tell the IRO to come up and babysit for him when the CA takes the break.

Not to get off topic about the IRO thing, but has anyone been assigned the 777 as a new hire to date? Anymore class drops available? I'm going to class in November and am trying to gauge where I am going to go. I can't wait! No matter what equipment. Thanks!

someone walk my resume in!!!!!

Most of Europe you deadhead there and IRO back. The longer routes you IRO both ways. The 777 has more IRO than DH, but there is DH because sometimes you only need one IRO to the destination and two IRO's coming back. One IRO gets to DH. I would prefer not to sit in coach for 11 hours straight. First Class is not so bad, but there has to be an empty seat.

Not sure, I know on the last bid there were about 90 FO vacancies on the 777 in EWR. They were not filled, so there is still 30-40 positions available that they have to fill. Why didn't the some of the 2500 FO's already at CAL bid it? I think we've covered that. CAL is getting two more 777's next year, so someone will have to fly them. Good luck to everyone getting on with CAL, it really is a great place to be- despite what pilotcaltoo says.

Yes, we have. And the same for the 756 FO position. I think there was well over 150 non bid vacabncies on that aircraft as well.

So good luck to anyone wanting to work at CAL. I like it here. And to be a new hire on the 757-767 or the 777 ain't bad. But if you want to fly I would recommend Cape Air.

What does that mean?????

Where did I say I didn't like flying for CAL? You are the one going around calling fellow crew members babysitters. You go from calling fellow crew members babysitters to making outright false statement about what I did or did not say. I'm done here.